The new constitution promises Chileans, among other things, better healthcare and free universities. However, only 37 percent of the people support the reform during Sunday’s vote.
Today, Sunday, Chileans will vote on whether to leave the last vestiges of the dictatorship behind.
The urn will decide whether the general will change Augusto Pinochet early constitution to the new one. Law reform was called for by riots in the streets, but now its passage is no longer certain.
An 18-year-old student-activist living in the country’s capital, Santiago Antonia Rolland according to which the reform would mean nothing less than minimum conditions for a decent life. Rolland starts university next year, and available studies depend on income level.
– The same applies to everything in Chile – movement opportunities, health care, everything, Rolland tells in a video interview.
80 percent supported the denting of Pinochet’s constitution
The background to the constitutional reform is the wave of protests and riots that broke out in 2019, where Chileans demonstrated against social inequality, the lack of public services and the high cost of living.
The root cause of the problems was especially considered to be the neoliberal constitution of 1980, which emphasized the rights of individuals and companies and a free market economy.
It has been attributed to Chile that it is considered the economic success country of Latin America. The flip side is huge income differences.
Protests by workers, students, pensioners, feminists and indigenous peoples led to Chile’s political parties agreeing to hold a referendum on constitutional reform.
Representative of the Feminist Coordinadora Feminista M8 activist group Barbara Miel33, tells that the outbreak of riots demanding reforms was no surprise.
– The background was a decades-long social crisis and, more broadly, 500 years of colonization. The uprising was only a matter of time. The uncertainty of life drove us to risk our health in riots.
Rolland and Miel have been involved in the protest movement since the beginning and are now campaigning for yes votes like young people like them. In their opinion, the old constitution simply does not meet the goals of the people’s movement of recent years.
On Sunday, Chileans will vote to approve the constitution. If it does not get more than 50 percent of the votes, the old constitution will remain in force.
A stronger state, rights for minorities
The council that prepared the draft law was elected by popular vote from outside politics. There were as many women as men, and also representatives of indigenous peoples. The council was chaired by a representative of the Mapuche people Elisa Loncón Antileo (you switch to another service).
The constitution proposed by the left-wing council emphasizes, among other things, social rights, equality issues, environmental protection and the rights of minorities.
The draft includes, for example, the establishment of a centralized public healthcare system and the guarantee of free university education. It emphasizes the state’s duty to protect nature and guarantee clean water for everyone.
The new constitution would guarantee, among other things, the right to abortion and at least a 50 percent quota for women in public sector jobs. The draft constitution also recognizes the indigenous peoples of Chile – the last of the Latin American countries.
However, several proposals considered the most radical did not end up in the final draft in the council’s votes. Among these was, for example, the nationalization of mining companies.
Reform targeted by fake news campaign
The draft constitution has met with opposition, especially from the right wing of Chilean politics, including the right-wing minority of the Constitutional Council.
Some voters also consider the new constitution too radical.
Policies concerning indigenous peoples, such as the declaration of Chile as a multinational state, have also met with opposition.
Opponents of the reform have also fueled citizens’ uncertainty with a fake news campaign (you switch to another service). For example, it has been claimed on social media that the new constitution would allow abortion up to the ninth month and would ban private property rights.
The popular uprising changed future plans
Barbara Miel and Antonia Rolland say that, despite the opinion polls, they strongly believe that the new constitution will get the majority of voters on their side.
– In the last elections, the votes of women, young people and the working class decided. We ourselves belong to this group, says Miel.
In my opinion, the work to improve living conditions will continue in any case.
– The new constitution is only the first step, the second would be its application in practice. All changes require internal dialogue and growth.
According to Rolland, the idea of rejecting the new constitution is disgusting.
– It would send a message that things cannot be changed and that things are not worth fighting for.
Rolland says that the popular uprising has already changed his thoughts about the future in Chile. Before, he dreamed of studying abroad and traveling.
– Now the situation is that my family has decided to go to Canada in search of a better life and I have decided to stay. I want to stay here and support other young people in the future as well.
What thoughts did the story evoke? You can discuss the topic with Tunnus until Monday 5 September. until 11 p.m.